ALCOHOL EFFECTS ON THE FACIAL EXPRESSIONS OF ANXIETY PATIENTS UNDERGOING A PANIC PROVOCATION

Using subjects with panic disorder, we investigated the effect of alco hol on expressive-emotional facial reactions to a well-known laborator y panic provocation procedure (inhalation of 35% carbon dioxide). Subj ects consuming alcohol (vs. a placebo) displayed lower levels of emoti onal masking and fear/distress facial responses; however, differences were significant only for emotional masking. A composite variable comb ining the masking and fear/distress scores was also significantly lowe r in the group consuming alcohol. To the extent that masking behavior is a valid proxy for fear/distress responding, then the latter finding supports the conclusion that alcohol reduced negative affectivity ass ociated with the inhalation. However, we also note the possibility tha t alcohol reduced masking directly without affecting fear/distress. We make parallel recommendations for future research that treats masking behavior as a nuisance variable on the one hand, or a dependent varia ble of potential importance on the other. We conclude that expressive- behavioral measures appear to be both feasible and potentially informa tive in alcohol research.